Preparing for the banquet—the lovely little Celestials have arrived!

Huanxin Celestial

On June 10th, we received a booking for a 22-table lunch, plus an additional dozen tables for dinner, celebrating a 60th birthday. Each table seated 10 people, with more than 200 guests attending. The menu was diverse, and from the moment breakfast was finished, we began preparing vegetables and cooked dishes. It was an all-hands-on-deck situation, with everyone coordinating their tasks, bustling about in joyful collaboration. Running our own farmhouse inn means that everyone is both an owner and a server. Some curious guests asked, "It looks like a family business, right?" Though we didn’t introduce ourselves as such, they could clearly see the camaraderie. It was our first time handling such a grand banquet scene, and the whole day was lively and exciting. Everyone was enthusiastic, working together smoothly, and we completed the event successfully. Some of the brothers and sisters had already helped with a 38-table lunch banquet before we arrived, so compared to that, this felt like a smaller challenge.

On the day of the banquet, four young Celestial maidens—Danrui, Peiyao, Bixin, and Shaohua—arrived gracefully, like descending on clouds of seven-colored light. In their vibrant youth, they radiated life and vitality, each one lively, cheerful, and playful. From a young age, they had lived with their parents in the Second Home, growing up among the Celestial family, witnessing the transformation of the community from nothing to something, through all its challenges. Over the years, they came to the home again and again, though at times they had to temporarily part from it. Now, more than a decade has passed, and they have returned to the embrace of the community, blossoming into beautiful young women. The years of education, care, and growth in the home have shaped them into individuals who are healthy in body, mind, and spirit, skilled in various tasks, hardworking, and highly capable, with a strong sense of independence. Their lives are full of richness and vibrancy, having spent their youth in this new life model. Many times, they’ve shone on the stage of the home, their radiant smiles lighting up every corner. 2023-6